Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-05-13


In view OF the amendments to the new civil
service rules, IN the shape OF authorized "defni.
tions- correspondent makes the pertinent In
quiry: "what are the new rules fort" II the ex-
aminations are not to be sufficiently scholastic to
bother any practically efficient clerk, and the
marking for practical efficiency Is to control II
he Is bothered Of what service are the scholastic
examinations? The clerk may, without the rules
be examined and tested as to his practical ell
cheney, and discharged If inefficient, retained
and promoted II efficient. II there Is any founda-
tion for the Islander that the vast majority OF old
Government employees are Incompetent and unfit
to hold office, why were they not discharged
long ago for fnefnciency, under powers then
and now existingf II the new rules leave the
opinion OF the clerks superi0rs as to their com.
potency still to control, what reason is there 70
expect change In that opinion which shall bring
about proper dismissals, previously denied? The
truth Is that the new regulations as amended
BY definitions, which, for the most part, do not
define anything in the rules, but add new matter
OF Importance, are 50 muddled and uncertain that
they please nobody neither civil service reformers
nor spoilsmen, neither actual nor be clerks
and promise no Improvement OF the public service.
This very uncertainty adds to the uneasiness
OF the clerks by rendering satisfactory
preparation 10 meet the threatened danger i'm
possible, and by leaving them exposed to the risk
Of hostile construction Of ambiguous rules, and
at the mercy Of amendments or definitions,
changing the meaning Of the little which seems
clear. The public viii sympathize with efforts to
prevent unjust promotions, secured By 'impor.
tunate solicitations and coercive influence from
the outside, and prejudice, favoritism or corrup-
ton on the part OF appointing ofncers." But the
new rules bear on their face the indication that
they are not designed TO accomplish this reform,
and, except IN providing permanent daily record
Of practical eficiency, have no tendency towards
this or any other good end, unless IL consists as
an authorized" contemporary boasts, in frighten-
ing the clerks into unaccustomed activity and In
dustry by vague and uninteligible threats Of evil
The master masons's lockout In Chicago
threatens to be a pretty serious affair." unless the
oricklayers, against whom 1t is aimed, surrender
at discretion. The trouble has been some time in
fomentng, and was finally brought to the explosive
point by demand on the part Of the bricklayers
for change OF payday from Monday to Saturday
The cause for such q demand Is hard TO under.
stand saturday payments have gone or are going
out OF vogue in most Of the large factories and
other establishments requiring the services Of
mechanics, because the day of idleness that fol-
lows IS fun OF temptation, for a man with q
pOcketful OF money, to have such q good time, :"
that be turns up on Monday morning considerably
worse for the wear. The men themselves seem to
realize the COED sense underlying the change, and
10 be willing to submit TO some trifiing tncon-
venience for the sake OF the resultant benefit. In
Chicago the master masons have offered as an
additional reason for refusing the request OF their
men, the statement that they are unable to make
up their pay-rOlls for the whole week In time to
settle on Saturday night. But the men would not
listen to any argument, and threatened q strike
and boycott II their demand were not granted
II Is 10 be hoped for their sake that the lockout
may not cause general distress in the building
trades; but there is reason to fear that it viii
The troubles OF last spring were not healed with.
out a considerable expense Of strength and money:
and every time such hOstities occur IL is not only
harder 70 close the wounds they make, but the
whole business affected by them receives a shock
from whose effects it never entirely recOvera
The Virginia debt negotiations have been re-
opened Reputation, which seems to be the
alternative, IL satisfactory settlement cannot
be had, will be damaging to both parties, and
every e1ort VIII doubtless be made to reach an
agreement. The representatives OF the creditors
have gradually reduced their demands as they
have CON to know yirginias real financial condi.
ton II aas been shown TO them, with other sta
tissics tending in the same direction, that while
In 1859 the taxable values OF Virginia were
o-o4396o,e2s, revenue "a, 800, 81, disbursements
~, 449, debt $50 100, $40, and assets S35 469
In 1sS6 the taxable values were 33T5 g7S345 reve.
nue. 0,Ts3,437, disbursements $2,755, O35, debt
So, 367 800. assets s2,246,sa and due and
unpaid interest on debt 367049Oa The
oner Of the legislative committee Is to pay 3
per cent interest On the consols and MeCulloch
bonds, which are to be scaled at the rate OF *
cents On the dollar for consols and 6ok cents ON
the dollar for the McCulloch bonds; the tax-re.
cetvable coupon feature to be retained and the
state to pay at least 600 900 in cash on the past
due interest. The proposition last submitted by
the representatives OF the creditors is viewed as
Sufficiently reasonable to be entertained and there
Is some reason 20 expect an agreement as the re-
suit OF concessions on both sides. Virginia as a
leading state In the new South, has brilliant fu
ture before II, and with the debt question disposed
OF In such way as neither TO exhaust its revenues
nor stain II with reputation, will have opportu-
nifty and encouragement to develop its great re-
sourcea
Lord Colin Campbell has not heard the last OF
his famous-or, as some worthy persons consider
II, his infamousLdivorce suit. The fashion pre.
valent among the nobility and gentry OF the
mother country, when unhappily married, OF CIV
Ing their counsel q list OF their wives male &C.
quaintauces with carte blanche TO choose from n
oevy OF Correspondents, Is becoming trtfe tire
some 10 certain gentlemen who are selected ON
every available occasion The Duke of Mari
borough IL one Of these. In the literature Of
nearly every sensational divorce case which has